How to recover from career mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes from time to time. But there’s a fine line between a run-of-the-mill oversight and a headline-grabbing blunder. Fortunately, when it comes to the former, there’s always a silver lining, and with the right moves, you should be able to turn things around.

Here are four commonly made mistakes, and everything you need to know to recover from them:

Missing an important deadline – When you’re buried in work, it’s easy to miss a deadline. However, if you’re chronically late there’s an underlying issue at play. Introspect and see where things fell apart.

If you’re keen on sticking to deadlines and working smart, limit your time on your mobile phone and stay away from that gossipy colleague. Make it so that he or she - like everyone else - must book in time with you if they need your assistance with something.

Burning bridges – So, you’ve handed in your resignation and are finally going to get the chance to tell your soon-to-be-ex-boss exactly what you think about him/her. Resist the urge. Not every organisation conducts exit interviews, so when they do, it’s probably because they care about why you’re leaving and are hoping to gain insights from your departure.

While it’s easy to turn an exit interview into a bitter rant, it’s better to deliver the message with some degree of sensitivity and positivity.

Becoming a serial job-hopper – Although the stigma around job hopping has reduced, it is still not an ideal attribute to have and could potentially blow your chances of landing your dream job. So, whether you are out there chasing bigger opportunities or prefer to be footloose and fancy-free, it is now time to be strategic about your career.

Try to find something you love and be honest with your new employer – sharing your circumstances humanises you and gives employers a chance to see you as more than just as a candidate.

Don’t be a negative Nancy – if you’re the kind of person that thrives on drama and negativity, it’s time to stop. It’s an awful reputation to have and no one gets ahead by acting this way.

Start by making deliberate changes, such as staying away from gossip and getting sucked up in drama. Practising mindfulness and meditation has some proven benefits. And if nothing else works, then use your time to volunteer in other departments and teams – that should keep you busy and get you to mind your own business!